In light of the recent events in Cato, where 57 individuals were detained by ICE agents, I feel compelled to speak—not only as the mayor of Oswego, but as the son of an immigrant whose story continues to shape my values and convictions.
This issue is deeply personal to me and the events of last week very upsetting. My mother arrived in America in 1948, a young woman from a small mountain village in Italy. She came with hope, courage, and little else. She didn’t speak the language, and like so many immigrants of her generation, she faced prejudice, isolation, and hardship. Yet she persevered. Side by side with my father and grandfather, she worked long hours in the family business while raising three children. Her love for this country was unwavering, and she proudly became a naturalized citizen—a moment she cherished deeply.
Her journey to America came just a few years after witnessing the horrors of war firsthand. She saw Nazi troops march into her village, and later, she rejoiced as American soldiers liberated it. That experience instilled in her a profound appreciation for freedom and opportunity—values she found in her new home, even when life here was difficult…